When opening a bank account in Thailand to transfer the 800k baht required for retirement visa is this in a savings or current account? 🙏

Hi all, just thought I'd put something up here about my experience opening a bank account today. I am currently in Thailand on a Non O based around my son, this is my first Non O and I needed the bank account to apply for my visa extension. TLDR Bangkok bank wont give you a bank account on an initial Non O since the rule changes so use KBank for new accounts!

The first branch I visited was the Exchange Tower Bangkok bank. The lady I spoke to wasnt very polite and it was clear she didn't want anything to do with me. She asked for a copy of my passport, my driving license, my sons birth certificate, my girlfriends ID and a copy of my sons passport. When I showed her printed copies of all of this she told me I needed a letter from a UK embassy that confirmed my passport was truly my passport. At this point I thanked her for her time and left.

The second branch I visited was the Bangkok bank opposite Sukhumvit Soi 11. This was a very different experience, the lady was very polite and started to process my application until she noticed the stamp in my passport was only for 3 months. At this point she explained that with the recent changes to Thai banking, Bangkok bank will no longer give bank accounts to anyone who hasn't already extended their visa. Basically anything less than 4 months and the banks policy is to refuse you.

The third and final branch I went to was the Kasikorn Bank in the Two Pacific Place building in Sukhumvit, just a short walk from the Nana BTS station. The lady was very helpful, only required to see an electronic version of my visa, an original passport, sons birth certificate and my girlfriends national ID card. I was only in the branch for about 30 minutes and I left with a new account, a functioning app on my phone and she even gave me a little tour of the KPlus banking app before I left.

I'm still confused. I am trying to go the OA route and one must apply outside Thailand (TL).

I won't have the 800k thb (no comments please) but I earn 100k thb each month social security and have for 1.5 years. Soon to start collecting on a pension, LTR eventually). The US LA Consulate page has three options for income verification for the OA:

1. 800 thb in bank last 3 months;

1. income certificate for 65k thb (US embassy does not do this)

2. "or a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800k thb (in one year). In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from bank (an original copy) is required."

It goes on to say "Recent bank statement showing the applicant's name and ending balance of no less that $30,000 or proof of monthly income of not less that $2500/month along with the current bank statement showing incoming income."

Question: If Im outside, how would this have to be in a Thai bank? Can't set one up without a long-term visa.

I’m English and my wife is Polish, I’m already in Thailand on Non O retirement visa and building a home ready to move my wife and dogs once completed.

My wife has Polish and soon UK passport and turns 50 on September the 1st.

I have Thai bank account and she doesn’t.

With new banking regulations I see the only way for us to get the bank account open is to apply for 90 day Non O in the UK, I assume once she’s turned 50 or could we do it before? Then open her a bank account once she’s here, deposit the 800,000 and apply for the extension after 2 months?

Sorry if any of my terminology is incorrect.

Hi, just wondering if the banks have changed the amount you can transfer from abroad, I was using wise and this message popped up. I never read about a change. I thought the max was 50k apart from the big 3 banks.

KBank sent there new T&C through some 30 pages, however, asked a AI chat to find a summary, part of which was interesting.

Banks and financial institutions are required to report to the Revenue Department if a customer’s accounts have 3,000 or more deposit/transfer transactions in a year, or 400 or more transactions totaling 2 million baht or more, to ensure tax compliance.

Large cash transactions (e.g., 2 million baht or more) must be reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO).

For someone who may want to switch from the expensive Elite Visa scheme to the DTV, and who already has a Thai bank account, are there any risks that the bank might close the account due to the visa status change? Any relevant experiences to share most appreciated.

For the DTV-holders out there who are having their account locked, is there a deadline to withdraw money mentioned when the bank phoned you? I know the sooner you show up that the branch the better, but I'm half an Earth away and could be costly (if possible at all) to book a plane that depart in a few day. Can I be there mid-June and still have access to my fund?

Could someone ask the bank for me, please? I called them yesterday but the lady didn't speak good English and refused to share more over the phone any way. I'm told to be physically at the branch with my passbook and passport.

Something going down with bank accounts today. Seen several posts across the visa groups. Not sure if it’s a particular bank specific thing or what. The posts mention about the banks closing accounts of people not on long term visas.

If anyone has information as to what’s going on then please share.